Atiku Tackles Tinubu With Fresh Security Scrutiny After Southern Kaduna Killings

• Atiku condemns the reported killings in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, describing the attack as another tragic failure of the government to protect lives and property.

• Former Vice President says Nigerians need security—not foreign commendations—as communities continue to face attacks by terrorists, bandits and other violent criminals.

• ADC presidential candidate faults the Tinubu administration for allegedly focusing on international image while insecurity persists across the country.

• Calls for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, intelligence-led operations and stronger protection for vulnerable communities ahead of the 2027 political season.

July 27, () — Former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over the reported killing of scores of residents in Southern Kaduna, urging the Federal Government to prioritise the protection of Nigerians instead of seeking what he described as foreign commendations.

Reacting to the attack in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Atiku said the incident was another painful reminder that the Tinubu administration has failed in what he described as the primary constitutional responsibility of government—the protection of lives and property.

In a statement issued on Monday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President condemned the killings in the strongest terms, describing the loss of innocent lives as heartbreaking and unacceptable.

“The reported killing of scores of innocent Nigerians in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State is heartbreaking and unacceptable. Every life lost is a painful indictment of a government that has repeatedly promised security but continues to preside over an expanding landscape of bloodshed”, Atiku said.

He added that no nation could genuinely claim progress when citizens were being attacked in their homes and communities by armed criminals operating with impunity.

‘Nigerians Need Security, Not Foreign Praise’

Atiku accused senior officials of the Tinubu administration of focusing on promoting what he described as an unverified claim of a letter of commendation from the United States Government instead of addressing the worsening security situation across Nigeria. According to him, Nigerians were more concerned about their safety than any diplomatic recognition the government might receive.

“The people of Southern Kaduna—and indeed all Nigerians—do not need letters of praise from foreign capitals. They need security. They need to sleep without fear, travel without anxiety, cultivate their farms in peace and raise their children without the constant threat of terrorists, bandits and other violent criminals.”

The former Vice President argued that governance should not be measured by public relations campaigns or diplomatic endorsements but by the government’s ability to guarantee the safety of its citizens.

He maintained that until Nigerians could live without fear of attacks, any celebration of foreign commendation would amount to little more than political optics.

Drawing a comparison with the United States, Atiku referred to reports that the administration of former US President Donald Trump reportedly committed approximately $750,000 to evacuate a single American citizen stranded on a remote Pacific island after possible exposure to hantavirus.

He said the reported intervention demonstrated how responsible governments respond when the life of even one citizen is threatened.

According to him, governments that genuinely value human life place the security and welfare of their citizens above concerns about international perception.

Calls For Security Overhaul

Atiku called for an urgent and comprehensive review of Nigeria’s security architecture, saying repeated condemnations after attacks were no longer sufficient.

He urged the Federal Government to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve coordination among security agencies and deploy proactive measures capable of preventing attacks before they occur.

The ADC presidential candidate also advocated the swift arrest, prosecution and punishment of those responsible for the latest killings and other violent crimes across the country.

He said restoring public confidence in government would require visible improvements in security rather than official assurances.

Atiku further urged security agencies to remain vigilant as the country gradually approaches another election cycle.

While expressing hope that the latest attack was not politically motivated, he warned that vulnerable communities could become targets of violence as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general election.

He called on law enforcement agencies to identify those responsible for the Southern Kaduna killings, bring them to justice and strengthen security around communities considered vulnerable to similar attacks.

“The protection of innocent lives must never be sacrificed on the altar of Politics”, he stated.

The former Vice President extended his condolences to the bereaved families and the people of Southern Kaduna, praying for the repose of those killed and the speedy recovery of those injured.

He concluded that history would ultimately judge governments not by the number of foreign commendations they claimed to have received but by whether they protected their citizens when their lives were under threat.